Trump and Zelensky to Meet in Washington as US Mulls Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday, a high-stakes meeting that could shape the next phase of the war in Ukraine. The talks come as Trump considers whether to provide Kyiv with Tomahawk cruise missiles, advanced long-range weapons capable of striking targets deep inside Russian territory.
The meeting follows a week of intense diplomacy. Just a day before, Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing the call as “very productive” and saying it marked “great progress.” The two leaders reportedly agreed to meet face-to-face in Hungary within the next two weeks — a move that could redefine Washington’s approach to Moscow.
Trump said that during their call, both sides discussed “post-war trade opportunities” between the United States and Russia. He announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead a high-level American delegation to meet Russian officials next week at an undisclosed location.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated: “We spent a great deal of time talking about trade between Russia and the United States when the war with Ukraine is over. I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation.”
Zelensky Pushes for Long-Range Missiles
Arriving in the United States for his third visit this year, President Zelensky said Russia was “rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks.” He has repeatedly urged the US to send these advanced missiles, which can travel more than 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles), giving Ukraine the ability to strike critical Russian infrastructure and military bases far beyond the frontlines.
When asked earlier this week if he planned to approve the weapons transfer, Trump responded, “We’ll see… I may.” However, after his conversation with Putin, the US president struck a more cautious tone. “We can’t deplete our own Tomahawk stockpile,” Trump said. “We need them too, so I don’t know what we can do about that.”
Massive Russian Strikes Precede Diplomatic Moves
Hours before Trump’s phone call with Putin, Russia launched one of its largest attacks of the year on Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, Moscow fired 28 ballistic missiles and over 320 drones in a single night.
“These attacks expose Russia’s real attitude toward peace,” Stefanishyna said in a statement to CBS. “Moscow’s strategy is one of terror and exhaustion. The only effective response is pressure — through tougher sanctions, stronger air defenses, and long-range capabilities.”
Zelensky has echoed that sentiment for months, arguing that Ukraine needs more powerful weapons to deter Moscow and force it to negotiate seriously.
Budapest Set to Host Potential Trump-Putin Summit
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confirmed that his country is preparing to host a potential Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, calling it “great news for peace-loving people worldwide.”
On social media platform X, Orbán wrote, “Peace requires patience, strength, and humility. Europe must change its stance — instead of arrogance and endless conflict, we need dialogue with Russia. Only diplomacy can bring peace to our continent.”
This marks a notable shift in tone for Europe, where the debate over how to approach Russia remains deeply divisive.
A Shifting Relationship Between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky
Trump’s stance toward Russia has fluctuated over time. Following his August summit in Alaska with Putin, the US president adopted a noticeably tougher line after the meeting failed to produce a peace breakthrough. At that summit, Trump hoped to persuade Putin to enter comprehensive negotiations to end the war, which began in February 2022.
Afterward, Trump briefly interrupted a separate meeting with Zelensky and European leaders to call Putin directly — a move that drew international attention. Since then, both the White House and the Kremlin have remained tight-lipped about any direct communications.
During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed he could “end the war in Ukraine within days.” But since returning to power, he has admitted that resolving the conflict is “far more complex” than he anticipated.
Early in his presidency, Trump was perceived as being more sympathetic to Russia than his predecessor, Joe Biden. Tensions with Zelensky came to a head in February when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly berated the Ukrainian leader in the Oval Office during a live broadcast.
However, relations between Washington and Kyiv have since improved significantly. In September, Trump signaled a major policy reversal, declaring that he now believed Ukraine could reclaim all its original territory, a stark contrast to his earlier suggestion that Kyiv might have to accept territorial losses.
US Leverage and Global Implications
In late July, Trump gave Putin less than two weeks to agree to a ceasefire, threatening to impose sweeping new sanctions — including penalties on nations continuing to trade with Russia. The ultimatum was not enforced after Putin agreed to meet in Alaska, which Trump hailed as a diplomatic success despite the lack of a tangible outcome.
Meanwhile, the US has ramped up pressure on countries such as India and China to curb purchases of Russian oil. The White House argues that such trade undermines Western sanctions and provides Moscow with resources to sustain its war effort.
On Thursday, however, India’s foreign ministry disputed Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to stop importing Russian oil. “We are not aware of any such conversation between the two leaders,” a government spokesperson said, contradicting Trump’s remarks that Modi promised to end purchases “within a short period of time.”
Zelensky has long called on US allies to tighten sanctions against Russia and stop buying its energy, insisting that only unified global pressure can force the Kremlin to negotiate peace.
Looking Ahead
As Trump prepares for his meetings with both Zelensky and Putin, the world will be watching closely. The potential transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could dramatically alter the balance of power in the conflict — and reshape US-Russia relations for years to come.
For Zelensky, Friday’s meeting could mark a pivotal moment in securing the long-range weapons Ukraine has sought since the war began. For Trump, it presents a test of his ability to manage one of the most volatile geopolitical crises of his presidency — while balancing his pledge to both “end the war quickly” and “keep America strong.”